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Concerns about the Covid-19 outbreak in Auckland have moved to another mini-group linked to ‘bereavement activities’ in the city.
Dr. Ashley Bloomfield. Source: Getty
Six new cases of the virus were confirmed in the community yesterday, all from Mt Roskill Evangelical Fellowship Church, a group that Health Minister Chris Hipkins says has been “difficult” to treat at times.
All church members are urged to be retested after new infections, and police are called in to help locate the subgroup’s contacts.
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern says it is “frustrating” that some people have not been fully open with contact tracing teams, as these new cases emerge outside of isolation.
The new cases this week include a student from St Dominic’s Catholic College, a West Auckland public health service worker and a bus driver. Details of the routes he drove on can be found here, however passengers are not considered close contacts due to social distancing measures on public transportation.
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The government relaxes border rules
Strict border rules are being relaxed to allow more people to enter the country, including migrant workers and partners of New Zealand citizens and residents.
The new rules apply to people who have lived in the country for more than a year and cover partners in Australia and 61 other countries.
Immigration Minister Kris Faafoi says that many of these visa holders have lived in New Zealand for years.
“It is fair to allow these visa holders to return due to their longstanding and ongoing connections to this country,” he says.
Both the EMA and DairyNZ have welcomed the move, with many industries clamoring for skilled migrant workers.
Meanwhile, many families hope to be reunited with loved ones they have not seen since New Zealand’s borders were closed in March.
Labor proposes new tax rate
Labor plans to introduce a new top tax rate of 39 percent was the big talking point of yesterday’s election campaign.
The new rate applies to people who earn more than $ 180,000 a year. Labor says this will affect two percent of New Zealanders and is estimated to generate $ 550 million annually.
Tax rates for all others remain unchanged. Labor finance spokesman Grant Robertson also promised to keep the same corporate tax rate, with no further increases in the fuel tax.
The new tax rate proposal was met with criticism from multiple parties, including Labor allies.
Green Party co-leader James Shaw says the tax proposal has been pending for a long time, “but it is a tinkering that will not address the long-term challenges facing Aotearoa.”
Meanwhile, National finance spokesman Paul Goldsmith says “no country in the world has come out of recession with taxes.” National also claimed that Labor would “come after middle income” below, a statement that Labor’s Jacinda Ardern dismissed as “misinformation.”
ACT’s David Seymour says the proposal is “divisive populism and will generate little revenue.”
Experts say that many of the top earners will likely be able to get around the proposed new tax rate.
Meanwhile, the Maori Party published its revenue policy yesterday.
The party commits to doubling basic benefit levels and immediately raising the minimum wage to $ 25 an hour.
Co-leader Debbie Ngarewa-Packer says the policy will address Aotearoa’s low-wage economy.
More than half of New Zealanders think the government should provide free lunches for students in public schools.
According to exclusive figures from TVNZ’s Vote Compass tool, 51% of the population is in favor of the free lunch movement, while 31% are against the idea.
AUT principal investigator Dr. Lisa Chant says there is particularly strong agreement among young people.
It occurs when a group of child welfare organizations launch a campaign calling for the needs of children living in poverty to be a priority for parties in elections.
‘Five to Thrive’ identifies five topics where they say an urgent change is needed when it comes to the well-being of Aotearoa tamariki.
These include investing in children’s early years, affordable and healthy homes for all children, and lifting children and their families out of poverty.
Nats outlines the infrastructure plan
National is committed to building a great National Infrastructure Bank if it wins the election.
The organization would provide financing and advice to central and local government infrastructure projects.
It would see the merger of Crown Infrastructure Partners, NZ Green Investment Finance, residual interests in Crown Irrigation Investments Limited, and loans made by the Provincial Growth Fund.
National leader Judith Collins says the proposal “would deliver world-class infrastructure that grows our economy and puts Kiwis back to work.”
Boat search canceled
The Japanese coast guard suspended its full-time search for the 40 missing people, including two Kiwis, who were aboard a cattle boat that capsized off the country’s coast.
Authorities made the decision overnight and will now only search for Gulf Livestock 1 survivors as part of their regular patrols in the area. No survivors of the ship have been found since late last week.
That decision comes as new images surfaced aboard the unfortunate ship the day before its disappearance.
Video taken by one of the Australian crew members shows water filling the ship’s decks.
“Really sure,” you can hear him say sarcastically.
Other highlights this morning:
– Weta Digital staff are contesting claims that the company has cracked down on misconduct.
– Auckland Watercare has been given consent to drink an additional 100 million liters of water per day from the Waikato River.
– Winston Peters says the government should buy back full ownership of Air New Zealand if it means the regions will receive better service.
– Construction sites in New Zealand wave flags to mark World Suicide Prevention Day.
– The coroner says that the road knowledge questionnaire that tourists must answer before renting a car is “totally inappropriate”.
– A traditional Maori weapon could be returned to New Zealand after being on display in a US home for 20 years.
– And the case of a stolen historical cannonball has been solved three years after it disappeared from a Porirua museum.
Matt Owens (and magpie). Source: Seven Sharp
A few months ago, Seven Sharp published a story about a volunteer firefighter named Matt Owens.
He rose to fame after caring for two injured magpies to regain full health, and if newcomers to his home are anything to go through, word has obviously gotten around local birds about the modern day Dr. Dolittle in your neighborhood …
